Board of Park Commissioners Brief for Dec. 17, 2020
Meeting Recap for Dec. 17, 2020
The Board heard from several Bismarck Parks and Recreation District (BPRD) community partners: Bismarck Public Schools and their use of ice arenas, Bismarck Sports Group (Bismarck Bobcats) and a representative from the adult hockey leagues. All groups shared participation numbers and projects. All groups have a concern for lack of space for program growth.
The Board discussed 6.82 acres of land in Lions Park that is owned by St. Mary’s Church and has been leased to BPRD on a 99-year lease since 1928. Chuck Huber, representing St. Mary’s Church, presented information to the Board regarding the sale of this land to the park district. Gabe Schell from the City of Bismarck also provided background. The Board authorized staff to get this land appraised and to partner with the City on options to be discussed in the spring of 2021.
Burleigh County resident Jerry Doan and Burleigh County Commissioner Kathleen Jones provided an update to the Board regarding the donation of the Joann Hetzel Memorial 4-H Building to the park district. The Board voted to table this donation so additional background information could be gathered and shared at a future meeting.
A donation of greenspace in the Silver Ranch 3rd addition was officially accepted. An agreement to host the 2021 Babe Ruth 13-15-year-old Midwest Regional Plains Tournament was approved.
Other board business included the approval of professional consulting services for several improvements in 2021. Ritterbush-Ellig-Hulsing will manage the construction of a Tom O’Leary tennis courts/shared used path restroom facility and replacing lights at the Bismarck Municipal Ballpark. KLJ will manage replacing the parking lot at Igoe Park, a Capital Avenue trail repair and replacement, the Sleepy Hollow Park trail repair, the Gateway Pond trail repair and overlay and the Sertoma Park parking lots and road rehabilitation project.
The complete Board of Park Commissioner’s meeting can be watched at Dakota Media Access.
The next Board of Park Commissioner’s meeting is Thursday, January 21st, 2021 at 5:15pm in the Tom Baker Meeting Room.